Navjot Sidhu claims that "the people of Punjab will choose the chief minister,"

With less than a month till the highly anticipated Punjab Assembly elections, speculation is widespread as to who the ruling Congress party's chief ministerial nominee will be if they reclaim power.

To put an end to rumours, state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu declared on Tuesday that the CM candidate will not be chosen by the party's top command.

" Punjab's people will elect a new chief minister. Who told you that the CM would be chosen by the (Congress) high command? Don't make the mistake of thinking that the high command will choose the Congress candidate for Punjab CM. The MLAs will be chosen by the people of Punjab, and the Chief Minister will be chosen by the people of Punjab," Sidhu told reporters.

This year's election in Punjab is a four-pronged battle, with the Aam Aadmi Party emerging as a strong candidate to become the single largest party. Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and the Bharatiya Janata Party's alliance with Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress are the other contenders. 

The Punjab Assembly elections in 2022 will be held on February 14, with the results being announced on March 10.